ELS5: Culture StudiesELS5: Culture Studies

Instructor: Lyra RiabovInstructor: Lyra Riabov

Student: Chien-Jung, LuStudent: Chien-Jung, Lu

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• Geography of AlaskaGeography of Alaska

• Government of AlaskaGovernment of Alaska

• SymbolsSymbols• Business of AlaskaBusiness of Alaska

• Tourist InformationTourist Information

Geography of AlaskaGeography of Alaska

• Location: northernmost and Location: northernmost and westernmostwesternmost

state of the United Statesstate of the United States• Size: 1,593,438 sq km (615,230 sq Size: 1,593,438 sq km (615,230 sq

mi)mi)• Physical GeographyPhysical Geography

It includes the Aleutian Islands, a It includes the Aleutian Islands, a chain of about 150 islands that chain of about 150 islands that arc westward across the Pacific arc westward across the Pacific Ocean for 1,800 km (1,100 mi).Ocean for 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

45,327 sq km (17,501 sq mi) of 45,327 sq km (17,501 sq mi) of inland water inland water

70,849 sq km (27,355 sq mi) of 70,849 sq km (27,355 sq mi) of coastal water over which the coastal water over which the state has jurisdiction state has jurisdiction

The Arctic Region is bounded by The Arctic Region is bounded by the the Beaufort SeaBeaufort Sea to the north, to the north, the Chukchi Sea to the west, and the Chukchi Sea to the west, and

the crestthe crest of the Brooks Range to of the Brooks Range to the south.the south.

• Population: 643,786 Population: 643,786

• Natural resources: Oil and Ocean Natural resources: Oil and Ocean resourceresource

• Cities: Juneau,Cities: Juneau,Anchorage

• Climate: 4 different climatic zones Maritime: Temperatures do not vary greatly, but

rainfall is quite high and frequent.

Continental:extremely great temperature variations, but only moderate rain and snow.

Transitional:Lower temperatures and less rainfall.

Arctic: Arctic Alaska has very little snowfall, cool summer temperatures, and frequent high winds.

Geography of AlaskaGeography of Alaska

Government of AlaskaGovernment of Alaska

• Governor: Governor: • Capital city: Juneau Capital city: Juneau

• The time of joining the United States: The time of joining the United States: Alaska belongs to the United States since 1867.Alaska belongs to the United States since 1867. It was bought from Russia by Secretary of State It was bought from Russia by Secretary of State

William H. Seward.William H. Seward. The United States paid Russia $7.2 million for the The United States paid Russia $7.2 million for the

rights of the Russian American Company in rights of the Russian American Company in Alaska.Alaska.

SymbolsSymbols

Alaska State Flag

Big dipper

The Great Bear-Constellation

Alaska State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan

SymbolsSymbols

Alaska State Flower: Forget-

Me-Not

Alaska State Tree: Sitka

Spruce

Alaska State Seal

Business of AlaskaBusiness of Alaska• Leading Business: Leading Business:

1. Fur seal, sea otter, and beaver pelts were the basis of economic activity in Alaska for more than 150 years after 1741

2. The major gold rushes began in the late 1890s after the 1896 discovery of gold in the Klondike in the Yukon Territory

3. During the 1940s and 1950s large military bases were built throughout Alaska. The construction industry developed rapidly during and after World War II and manufacturing began to develop in the 1960s.

4. Beginning in the late 1970s, the economy of Alaska underwent a fundamental, and rapid change as the state’s enormous oil deposits, discovered in the 1960s, were exploited. Crude oil was first shipped from Valdez( in 1977. By 1980 state government revenue from the oil industry had grown to the point where the state government abolished its personal income tax.

Tourist InformationTourist Information• Nature:Nature:

Aurora Borealis(Polar Light)Aurora Borealis(Polar Light) Arctic TundraArctic Tundra Bears Hunting for salmon in AlaskaBears Hunting for salmon in Alaska National ParksNational Parks

• Culture:Culture: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog RaceIditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Eskimo Summer VillageEskimo Summer Village Russian Church, SitkaRussian Church, Sitka Totem PoleTotem Pole

• Recreation:Recreation: Fishing Fishing Bear viewBear view

•Museums:Museums:

Anchorage Museum of History and ArtAnchorage Museum of History and Art

Alaska Native Medical Center Craft Alaska Native Medical Center Craft ShopShop

Alaska Native Heritage CenterAlaska Native Heritage Center

•Celebration:Celebration:

Arctic Thunder 2003Arctic Thunder 2003

Greek FestivalGreek Festival

Tourist InformationTourist Information

ReferenceReference

1.1. http://encarta.msn.com/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569148/encyclopedia_761569148/Alaska.html#s37Alaska.html#s37

2.2. http://www.alaska.com/akcom/v-css/http://www.alaska.com/akcom/v-css/

3.3. http://www.alaska.govhttp://www.alaska.gov

                                                    

AnchorageJuneauJuneau

Trans-Alaska Pipeline

1. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline, about 1300 km (about 800 mi) long

2. It was built in the mid-1970s to carry crude petroleum from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s northern coast south to the city of Valdez on Prince William Sound.

3. Nearly all of the state’s petroleum comes from Prudhoe Bay. Mining, predominantly petroleum extraction, accounts for more than one-fifth of Alaska’s gross state product.

1. Founded in 1914 as a construction center for the Alaska Railroad,

2. Anchorage experienced rapid growth with the opening of two military bases in 1940

3. The discovery of oil was in 1957.

4. It is now Alaska’s largest city.

Anchorage

1. The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights,

2. It creates a spectacular light show near Fairbanks, Alaska.

3. Auroras, most frequently seen in the far northern and far southern regions of the globe, are common sights in the Alaskan sky.

4. Luminous displays visible to the naked eye only at night.

5. It occurs when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

1. Tundra, or low-growing vegetation including shrubs, grasses, mosses, and herbs, covers the plains and coastal regions of the Arctic.

2. Shown here is tundra in Denali (/d&-'nä-lE/) National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Kenai Fjords National Park

Russian Church, Sitka

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

Totem Pole

Eskimo Summer Village

Denali National Park

King salmon, also known as a chinook.

A big silver salmon

Rockfish

A male pink salmon

Fishing

A charter boat's catch of halibut

Bear View

Black bears Two orphaned black bear

A tour bus yields to a

grizzly and her two cubs

A polar bear

Visitors to Brooks Camp in

Katmai National Park

Seal

Sea Otter

Beaver